Dental floss dispenser

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a dental floss dispenser comprising an elongated finger section and a dental floss spool holding section. Dental floss on a spool is easily threaded from the spool section to the end of the finger section through an open slot on the side and through open slots in the finger of the dispenser. Turning of the spool to withdraw floss is controlled by a pin which engages a notch on the spool. Push button means on the side of the dispenser release the spool from the pin to permit the spool to turn.

[ Apr. 16, 1974 United States Patent 1' [191 Bennington 3,592,203 7/1971Johnson 132/81 1 DENTAL FLOSS DISPENSER William E. Bennington, 51Fillmore Dr., St. Arm-ands, Sarasota, Fla. Jan 19, 1973 PrimaryExaminen-Louis G. Mancene [76] Inventor:

Assistant Examiner-Gregory E. McNeil] [22] Filed:

Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Millen, Raptes & White Appl. No.: 325,099

Related US. Application Data Continuation-impart of Ser. No. -l80,344,Sept. 14,

1971, Pat. No. 3,747,611.

spool holding section. Dental floss on a spool is easily threaded fromthe spool section to the end of the fin- 0 A0 N M1 k 6 NA C SL um 11 21155 ger section through an open slot on the side and [58] Field ofSearch.............. 132/92 R, 91; 222/206 through p Slots in the fingerof the dispenser Tum References Cited mg of the spool to withdraw flossis controlled by a pm UNITED STATES PATENTS which engages a notch on thespool. Push button means on the side of the dispenser release the spoolfrom the pin to permit the spool to turn.

l32/92 R 132/92 A 132/92 R 6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 1,260,011 Muchow1,512,633 10/1924 Peckham 2,893,405 7/1959 Castelh DENTAL FLOSSDISPENSER This application is a continuation-in-part of my copendingapplication Ser. No. 180,344, filed Sept. 14, 197l now U.S. Pat. No.3,747,611.

This invention relates to an improved dental floss dispenser. Moreparticularly, it relates to a spool-type dispenser of improved designpermitting easier threading of the floss in the dispenser and asimplified dispensing means.

There have been many types of dental floss dispensers developedheretofore which have the means for dispensing floss. However, many ofthese dispensers are complicated and expensive to manufacture. Aparticular problem with many of them is the difficulty in the threadingof the floss through the dispenser and the ability to hold the flosstaut during use.

An object of this invention is to provide a dental floss dispenser ofimproved design permitting easy threading of the floss through thedispenser.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dental floss dispenserhaving means for dispensing floss in desired lengths with an automaticstop means for positive holding the floss taut after ithas beendispensed and during use. 7

Another object of this invention is to provide a dental floss dispenserhaving an extended finger which can be inserted in the mouth of the userto facilitate manipulation of the floss between the teeth for dislodgingfood particles.

A further object of this invention is to provide a dental flossdispenser having a spool-type reservoir of dental floss which can beturned and stopped by push button means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dental floss dispenserhaving ease of handling and use which is of simplified construction andinexpensive to manufacture.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing detailed description of one specific embodiment thereof takenin connection with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the dental floss dispenser;

FIG. 2 is also a side elevational view of the dispenser shown in FIG. 1with the retaining cap removed;

FIG. 3 is a section along line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a section taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a section taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

The dental floss dispenser is generally designated by the numeral 40 inFIG. 1 and is designed to be manufactured from any conventional plasticmaterials, such as polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyethylene,polypropylene and the like. The design is such that the dispenser can beproduced entirely from molded sections. However, if a more durable,permanent type of dispenser is desired, it can be manufactured from ametal such as stainless steel for use by dentists, etc.

The dispenser 40 comprises two molded members. One member, generallydesignated by the numeral 41 in FIG. 2, comprises a rear wall 42 and aperipheral flange 43 which define a finger section 44 with an openguideway 45 and a spool retaining cell 46. A rod 47 extends axially fromthe rear wall 42 in spool cell 46 and has a nob member 48 at its end. Apermanent pin 49 extends from the inside of peripheral flange 43 in thecell 46. The end of the finger section 44 comprises a hole 50 throughwhich the floss is withdrawn from the dispenser.

The second member of the modification, as shown in FIG. 3, is a flexibleretaining cap 51' which covers cell 46 and the open guideway leasing tothe finger section. The cap comprises button means 52 and a cylindricalportion 53 adapted to snugly fit over the nob member 48 and rod .47 andis press fitted into peripheral flange 43 and held in place by means ofperipheral rim 54.

Spool 55 is adapted to fit on cylindrical portion 53 and on which it canfreely turn. Shoulder 56 of cap 51 abuts the spool and when button 52 ispushed will move the spool against the bias of a spring 57 on rod 47.Disc section 58 of the spool is provided with a V-notch 59 (FIG. 1)adapted to engage pin 49 and prevent turning of the spool. When button52 is pushed, the flexible wall of the cap will permit movement ofshoulder 56 against the spool, the notch 59 will be released from thepin 49, and the spool will be free to turn.

A floss cutter 60 is disposed on the outer part of peripheral flange 43.The cutter is molded as part of member 41. Used floss may be cut bybringing the floss under the cutter and pulling sharply upward.

The dispenser 40 is easily loaded and threaded. Cap 51 carrying spool 55is pressed onto rod 47, carrying spring 57, with a length of flosspulled from the spool. The floss is threaded onto guideway 45 and outend 50.

The dispenser 40 has the advantage that an inexpensive dispenser can beessentially produced from only two molded parts and used with areplaceable spool of dental floss. However, it is also contemplated thatthe entire dispenser can be discarded after exhaustion of the supply offloss on the spool, in view of the fact that the dispenser isinexpensive to produce.

It will be understood that modifications, within the scope of theappended claims may be made in the design and arrangement of partswithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A dental floss dispenser adapted to dispense a me- 7 tered amount ofdental floss comprising in combina tion, a finger section communicatingwith a spool section, 'a freely turnable spool of dental floss in saidspool section and retaining cap means for retaining said spool in saidspool section, said spool containing a notch at its outer periphery,rigid pin means protruding into said spool section and normally engagingsaid notch of said spool and retain said spool from turning, pushbuttonmeans on said cap means for axially moving said spool and therebyreleasing said notch of said spool from said pin means permitting saidpin to freely turn on the periphery of said spool upon withdrawal ofdental floss from the end of said finger section until said pin engagessaid notch after one rotation of said spool to thereby dispense ametered amount of dental floss, and

open guideway means in said spool and finger sections adapted to permiteasy threading and for passage of floss from said spool section throughsaid finger section and out the end of said finger section.

2. The dental floss dispenser of claim 1 wherein said finger and spoolsections comprises a unitary molded member, said cap means comprises aunitary molded member which includes cylindrical means adapted to engageand permit said spool of dental floss to freely turn thereon.

3. The dental floss dispenser of claim 2 wherein said spool sectioncomprises axially extending rod means comprises peripheral rim meansadapted to engage peripheral flange means of said spool section, wherebysaid cap means can be press fitted and retained in said spool section.

6. The dental floss dispenser of claim 1 wherein said guideway meansextend along the side of said finger section.

1. A dental floss dispenser adapted to dispense a metered amount ofdental floss comprising in combination, a finger section communicatingwith a spool section, a freely turnable spool of dental floss in saidspool section and retaining cap means for retaining said spool in saidspool section, said spool containing a notch at its outer periphery,rigid pin means protruding into said spool section and normally engagingsaid notch of said spool and retain said spool from turning, pushbuttonmeans on said cap means for axially moving said spool and therebyreleasing said notch of said spool from said pin means permitting saidpin to freely turn on the periphery of said spool upon withdrawal ofdental floss from the end of said finger section until said pin engagessaid notch after one rotation of said spool to thereby dispense ametered amount of dental floss, and open guideway means in said spooland finger sections adapted to permit easy threading and for passage offloss from said spool section through said finger section and out theend of said finger section.
 2. The dental floss dispenser of claim 1wherein said finger and spool sections comprises a unitary moldedmember, said cap means comprises a unitary molded member which includescylindrical means adapted to engage and permit said spool of dentalfloss to freely turn thereon.
 3. The dental floss dispenser of claim 2wherein said spool section comprises axially extending rod means adaptedto engage said cylindrical means of said cap means.
 4. The dental flossdispenser of claim 3 wherein said cap means and said spool are springbiased on said rod means whereby said spool can be axially moved todisengAge said notch of said spool from said pin means.
 5. The dentalfloss dispenser of claim 3 wherein said rod means comprises terminal nobmeans adapted to engage said cylindrical means. and said cap meanscomprises peripheral rim means adapted to engage peripheral flange meansof said spool section, whereby said cap means can be press fitted andretained in said spool section.
 6. The dental floss dispenser of claim 1wherein said guideway means extend along the side of said fingersection.